Parked A320neo backlog declines after triple-figure peak

Airbus has started bringing down the backlog of parked engineless A320neo-family jets, after the total reached triple figures at the end of May.

Commercial aircraft president Guillaume Faury, speaking at a briefing in London, admitted that engine problems had resulted in "slightly more" than 100 aircraft being parked, awaiting powerplant installation, after assembly.

Airbus had temporarily suspended deliveries of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neos earlier this year, and has also faced disruption to delivery of those powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines.

Faury says that the backlog figure is "now getting down" from the triple-figure peak, declining to 86 by the end of June.

The airframer delivered 110 A320neo and A321neo jets over the first half of this year, and Faury points out that, in May and June, it delivered more A320neo-family than A320-family aircraft.

But he acknowledges that Airbus has needed to draw up a "battle plan" for the second half as it bids to reach delivery targets. "I can't say it's a comfortable situation," he says, adding that achieving delivery of backlogged aircraft is a "top priority" for the company.

Airbus delivered 41 A320neo-family jets during June, of which 22, including two A321neos, were fitted with Leap-1A engines. The rival PW1100G was installed on 19 aircraft, comprising 11 A321neos and eight A320neos.